January

5th Grade Happenings

 Happy Friday!  Just a reminder that we will be going to the Tech Museum on Thursday, Feb 6^th. It is an all day field trip, so students need to bring a lunch.

Upcoming events:

1.  State Report:  We have about all completed our state reports.  The next part of the project is their state speech and poster. We will have speeches on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. They will be a 3- 5-minute talk about their state almost like a commercial. Please help your child practice their speech.  There will not be parents at our speeches since I will be videotaping them.  Each child is to bring something for each child in our class that represents their state. It is something simple such as a cookie in the shape of something from their state, an orange from Florida, apple from New York or Washington, fake coins from Nevada. They can be as creative as they want and it should not cost a lot of money.

2. Language Arts:  We are reading the book The Cay, a book about a two strangers—a blind boy and a older man--stranded on an island who grow to look beyond race and respect one another for who they are. We will be discussing the idea of themes in a story such as survival, prejudice, and Please look for comprehension questions and vocabulary

3.  Social Studies: We are studying the first settlements in the New World.  Our Ch. 6 test is Friday and look for a study guide we completed already. Your child can also review at http://tutorial.teachtci.com/

4. We are studying Mixtures and Solutions.  We will have an Investigation 3 quiz on Wednesday. Please review their study guide with them. We will be choosing an element to do a project on later this week.

5. Outside Reading for the 2nd Trimester is due February 28, 2014

         A = 3000 pages                    Please check for requirements.

         B = 2000 pages                            

         C = 1600 pages

Have a great weekend!

Thanks,

Mrs. Jones

January

5th Grade Happenings

Happy Weekend! Boy! We have been busy with our state report!

Upcoming events:

1.State Report:

We are working hard to complete our state report by this Friday, January 31^st.  Please be sure to check in with your child to make sure they are on track. 

·      Begin editing in class Mon., Jan. 27^th    

·      Continue editing Tues., Jan. 28^th 

·      Rough drafts due Wednesday, Jan. 29^th   

·      Final paper due Friday, January 31^st

·      Speeches and posters due starting Tuesday, Feb 4^th

·      A list of each child’s scheduled date for speeches will be posted on our class blog next week. They should be working on their posters now.  Please help your child with checking their state report calendar regularly to stay on target.

*** Please help your child edit their report on Tuesday night. It is important that they get used to doing it first before asking for help. ******

2. Language Arts:  We are reading the book The Cay, a book about a two strangers—a blind boy and an older man--stranded on an island who grow to look beyond race and respect one another for who they are. We will be discussing the idea of themes in a story such as survival, prejudice, and friendship.  Please look for comprehension questions and vocabulary

3. Social Studies: We are studying about the first British Settlements (Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth) in the United States.  We will finish up the chapter and have a test early the following week.

4. Science: Our topic right now is Mixtures and Solutions.  We are learning about separating mixtures and saturating solution. We will be choosing an element to do a project on later this week.

Science-O-Rama:  We will be doing a practice science experiment as a class.  They can use this as a guide for their own project.  Those that do a science fair project will receive extra credit.  It is highly encouraged!  Science-O-Rama – March 13^th.

5.  It is time for the Los Altos Historical Commission and Los Altos History House 30^th Annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest. I have attached the essay contest information and details if your child is interested.  I will also offer extra credit for it.  The essay is due by March 7^th.

6. Valentine’s Day:

We will be passing out valentines on 2/14 to each other.  If your child would like to bring valentines, please be sure that there is one for every child in the class. There are 28 students in our class. We will be decorating collection bags in class prior to 2/14.  Bags will be provided.

7.  Outside Reading for the 2nd Trimester is due February 28^th    

         A = 3000 pages                    Please check for requirements.

         B = 2000 pages                            

         C = 1600 pages

Have a great weekend!

5th Grade Happenings

Happy Thanksgiving!  It was a pleasure to meet with each of you over the last few weeks.  I am really lucky to have such a wonderful class and such supportive parents.  So thank you!!!

Upcoming events:

1.  State Report: We have chosen our states and finished our first assignment of writing business letters to the Department of Tourism for our states. You shoulds have received 2 calendars for our state report, one for parents and the second for your child’s binder.  Please keep one posted at home as a daily reminder to stay organized.

2. Language Arts:  We have wrapped up persausive writing for the first part of the year and are moving on to summary writing. We are continuing to read the Sign of the Beaver. This coming of age novel takes place in early colonial America and goes along with our studies in history.

3.  Social Studies:  We are studying European Explorers. Our next project is on a European Explorer of their choice. Please help your child review by using an on-line tutorial at http://tutorial.teachtci.com/.   We are also continuing to memorize our States and Capitals. We will be having a test on the states and capitals Tuesday, December 17^th. We will be having a map test in the end of January of the states.  Here is a great website to have your child practice. http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/us-puzzle.html

4. Science:  We have finished the Water Planet unit and are moving into Mixtures and Solutions.

5. Winter Concert: Dec 13^th  at 1:00 P.M., please remember to dress appropriately for our concert.

6.  Outside Reading for the 2nd Trimester is due Febraury 28th, 2013

         A = 3000 pages                        Please check for requirements.

         B = 2000 pages                                

         C = 1300 pages

5th Grade Happenings

Happy Fall! I look forward to seeing you all at the Walkathon tomorrow.

Upcoming events:

1. Language Arts:  We are reading in our Houghton Mifflin book

Theme 1: Natures Fury!   Our first story was Earthquake Terror and now we are starting Eye of the Storm. Please look for all of our new vocabulary words. The masterpieces certainly look terrific and I enjoyed reading their artist reports. We have been working hard in class to create our own Halloween poetry books.

2. Social Studies: We are also continuing to memorize our States and Capitals and learn more about Native Americans in Chapter 3 of our History Alive book. The students are in small groups  to make an artifact from their assigned Native American region. Just a reminderof the History Alive website.

http://tutorial.teachtci.com/

3. Science: We will be starting our next topic in the WaterPlanet unit, the atmospheric pressure and wind.  The will have a quiz next week on Uneven Heating, Wind, and Atmospheric pressure. Please look for a study guide.

4. Spelling: Our new spelling program is designed to create lifelong spellers.  It promotes learning spelling rules and recognizing patterns in spelling.  So though our weekly spelling words do not appear too  The most difficult aspect of our new program is to recognize when to use the correct homophone such as they’re, their, or there.  One way to help your child become a good lifelong speller is to review words found in dictation and old spelling tests.  These words repeat and repeat throughout the year.

5.  Halloween Poetry is due the week of Oct. 28th

Your child is to memorize poems to present to the class.

                  40 lines = A

              30 lines = B

              20 lines = C

         Costumes and appropriate props are okay!

6. Keep an eye out for the test packet to be signed in the Friday Folder!

please read it and contact me if there are any questions.

7. You should receive a letter in your child’s Friday Folder regarding scholastic book orders.  The following information is needed to order books online.

Scholastic Book Clubs Ordering Information
www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: FTXKT

                                            

                                                      Have a great weekend!     

                                                               Andrea Jones

Upcoming Event

Unfortunately I am unable to update events due to technical difficulties.

Upcoming Events

10/7 Jane’s Birthday

10/12 Walkathon

10/13 Dennis’ Birthday

10/14 Emily’s Birthday

10/18 Katherine’s Birthday

10/21 Brianna’s Birthday

10/22 Early Dismissal 12:15

10/28 Halloween Poetry due

10/31 Happy Halloween, Halloween Parade

Oct 4th

5th Grade Happenings

Happy Weekend! Hope you are getting a chance to relax and spend some quality time with your family!  We will not be going on our field trip on Monday unless a miracle happens. Thank you to all that volunteered to  drive.

Upcoming events:

1. Language Arts: We just finished reading  The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  Please look for the final vocabulary coming home. Our final vocabulary test is Wed., Oct 9^th and our book test will also be next week. 

During the month of October, we are creating a poetry book as well as memorizing poetry to be recited in class the week of October 28^th.  We will also be reading Theme 1 Nature’s Fury, of the Houghton Mifflin textbook.

2. Social Studies:  We have started Chapter 3 on Native American this week.  Your student can always review at http://tutorial.teachtci.com/  Your child is working on a Native American Google Presentation and creating 3 artifacts from their Native American region.

We have also finished Daily Oral Geography 1 – 15 and will be having a test on Thursday, Oct. 10^th.  Your child has highlighted questions they must know.

3.  Science:  We are working on the Water Planet unit.  We will be learning all about the water cycle and how is our science website that may be helpful to reinforce concepts at home. http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/index.html 

4. Please remember to sign and return only the test packet sheet that will be in the Friday Folder this week. You are to keep all the tests for review.

5. Outside Reading for the 1st Trimester is due Nov. 1^st

         A = 2400 pages                        Please check for requirements.

         B = 1600 pages                                 

         C = 1200 pages

Thank you for all your support and have a great weekend!

                                   

                                                               Andrea Jones

October Calendar